12 places for healthy lunch in Nottingham

[Blog post updated April 2023]

Life is all about balance, but recently my eating habits have been tipping the scales towards ‘naughty and nice’ more than nutritious. The problem is going out for food with my partner and friends is one of my all-time favourite things to do, which makes eating healthier feel like even more of a struggle.

So, I decided to go on the hunt for healthy lunch options in Nottingham– you know, for those days where you fancy something lighter than a carb-on-carb lunch and more exciting than a supermarket sandwich (sorry Tesco)– and I came up with this list of 12 places. If it’s nutritious nosh in Notts you’re looking for, then I’ve got you covered!

Blend — Unit 30, Avenue C, Sneinton Market, Nottingham, NG1 1DW

Because of all the hype surrounding Blend’s famous grilled cheese toasties, their salads are criminally underrated and I’m on a one-woman mission to change that.

Your bog standard lettuce, tomato and cucumber salad just doesn’t cut it for me. I like my salads to have as many tasty toppings as possible and the ones served at Blend definitely fit the bill! Their creative ingredient combos (like goat’s cheese, strawberry, toasted almond and spring onion) are proof that healthy food doesn’t have to be boring.

Clean Cut Kitchen — 42 Pelham Street, Milton Street, Nottingham NG1 2EG

My favourite healthy food destination! If you’re looking for a nourishing lunch in Nottingham, there’s no better place to go than Clean Cut Kitchen.

This restaurant is all about ‘clean eating’, which means they avoid processed foods and refined sugar without compromising on taste. As well as yummy salads, there’s protein bowls and smoothie bowls to try.

Pokéwaves — Clock Tower Dining, Victoria Centre, Nottingham, NG1 3PA

I’ve been obsessed with poké bowls ever since I tried one for the first time last year. The Hawaiian-inspired dish is full of nutritious ingredients, including fish, rice and vegetables.

If you’d like a lower calorie option than the standard poké bowl, you can ask for half your rice portion to be replaced with leafy veg. I also like to to top mine with an avocado for an extra £1 (worth every penny!)

Avocafé — 1 Park Street, Nottingham, NG7 1RR

Avocafé is a great lunch option for students, as it’s handily located next to the Savoy cinema in Lenton (a.k.a student housing central).

This is another business that specialises in fresh, nutritious food, so you can’t really go wrong when ordering any of the delicious items on their menu. The protein packed bowl is an especially good choice if you want a meal that’s both healthy and filling.

The Golden Fleece — 105 Mansfield Road, Nottingham NG1 3FN

The Golden Fleece on Mansfield Road became Nottingham’s first vegan pub when it combined forces with former vegan café Prickly Pear. The plant-based pros at Prickly Pear have created a range of exciting dishes to tempt both vegans and non-vegans a like, including a healthy burrito bowl and a selection of smoothies. There is also a variety of not-so-healthy but equally delicious food on the menu for you to try.

Cartwheel — 16 Low Pavement, Nottingham, NG1 7DL

One of the best brunch spots in Notts! Cartwheel’s Smashed Avocado and Eggs comes with a dollop of pesto and toasted pine nuts sprinkled on top. It’s my go to when I’m feeling in the mood for something nutritious on toast.

Want something lighter? Opt for the superfood salad – it’s full of greens with added quinoa, sundried tomatoes and toasted walnuts.

Fox Café — 9 Pelham Street, Nottingham, NG1 2EH

Fox Café is a firm favourite for vegetarians and vegans in Notts, and a solid choice if you’re after a salad with some personality.

Start off with a base of mixed leaves, cucumber, tomatoes, mixed peppers, red onion, beetroot, olives and seeds, then add two toppings and a dressing. If you aren’t big on salads, you can also order gourmet sandwiches, paninis and grazing boards.

Wagamama – Cornerhouse, Nottingham, NG1 4DB

Can you believe I only discovered the wonders of Waga a couple of years ago? Their flavour-filled kokoro bowls provide a lighter alternative to the noodle and rice based dishes that Wagamama is best known for.

This chain is also a trailblazer when it comes to vegan food, with 50% of the items on their menu classified as plant-based.

Bonzai Sushi & Noodle Bar — 11-13 Carlton Street, Nottingham, NG1 1NL

I love sushi but I’ve got a tendency to be greedy and over order – absolutely fine if it’s a Saturday, but not so good on a week day when I have to return to the office and wait for the inevitable carb coma to kick in.

A bento box will satisfy your sushi cravings without leaving you feeling too stuffed to move afterwards. The bento boxes at Bonzai consist of rice, fish or meat, pickled veg and miso soup on the side.

31K — 31 Goose Gate, Nottingham, NG1 1FE

31K in Hockley is best known for its incredible cocktail menu, but the food there is quickly developing an impressive reputation of its own.

The menu changes with the seasons, but the food always follows the same simple ‘build your own’ format of main, sauce, carb and greens.

Café Coco Tang — 8 Byard Lane, Nottingham, NG1 2GJ

This Vietnamese kitchen is a foodie hot spot in Nottingham. Not only is Café Coco Tang one of the most beautiful venues in the city with lots of foliage and stunning wall murals, it also serves fantastic Asian food.

Café Coco Tang recently launched a £10 bento box lunch deal. There’s a variety of other dishes that would be ideal for a light lunch, like the mango salad and green papaya salad.

Barburrito — 22 King Street, Nottingham, NG1 2AS

Barburrito offer a number of healthier alternatives to the classic burrito. Swap your rice for coleslaw with the superfood burrito, which also contains four of your five a day, or if you’d rather skip the wrap than the rice, you can also enjoy your burrito naked with the classic bowl.

The protein bowl is another option, especially if you’re looking for food with higher protein and lower carbs.